Codelco's lawyers have expanded the lawsuit in the case known as the "Belarusian plot," leveling new allegations of bribery and money laundering against former deputies Gabriel Silber and Aldo Cornejo.
The legal action, filed by Julián López and Carolina Sepulveda, also names María Pía Peñaloza, secretary to Eduardo Lagos. The lawsuit alleges that the three individuals were involved in alleged payments made to benefit the Belaz Movitec Consortium in litigation against the state-owned company.
According to the 37-page filing, the network operated by making payments to former Supreme Court Justice Ángela Vivanco through her partner, Gonzalo Migueles. The goal was to secure favorable rulings in cases being heard in the Supreme Court's Third Chamber.
Implications for Gabriel Silber
The lawsuit alleges that Silber acted as a co-perpetrator of bribery offenses in his capacity as a partner at the law firm Lagos, Vargas & Silber Asesorías Legales Limitada.
“Mr. Silber had direct and full knowledge of the illicit influence mechanism over the then-Supreme Court Justice,” the court filing details.
Codelco's attorneys contend that Silber participated in negotiating the payments and received millions in fees derived from illicitly obtained profits. Furthermore, they claim the lawyer filed motions directly with Vivanco during her tenure as visiting justice in Copiapó.
The criminal action also accuses Silber of money laundering for the “conscious receipt of funds whose illicit origin he was fully aware of.”
Meanwhile, the legal situation of Ángela Vivanco has taken a new turn following the resignation of her defense attorney, Jorge Valladares. The lawyer notified the Seventh Guarantee Court of Santiago of his decision to cease representing the former justice.
Following the resignation, Judge Cristián Azocar provisionally assigned the Public Defense Office (DPP) to defend the accused. Public defender Víctor Providel will seek to meet with Vivanco to determine whether the former justice will continue with state-provided legal aid or hire new private counsel.